Unterrichtsmaterialien in digitaler und in gedruckter Form. Auszug aus:

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1 Unterrichtsmaterialien in digitaler und in gedruckter Form Auszug aus: The education of a country reflects its society - Problems of the school system in Germany Das komplette Material finden Sie hier: School-Scout.de

2 Thema: TMD: Englisch Gesellschaft & Landeskunde The education of a country society Problems of the school system in Germany Autor: Helen Power-Englert reflects its Kurzvorstellung des Materials: A text about the problems of the German school system and why education also depends on a responsible society. Some of the main key points are: What is education? Problems of the German school system School performance and family background Schools suffer from social problems Education depends on a responsible society Übersicht über die Teile The text about the problems of the German school system. Question sheet (12 questions) Answer sheet Vocabulary sheet Information zum Dokument SCHOOL-SCOUT schnelle Hilfe per Ca. 10 Seiten, Größe ca. 26 KByte Internet: info@school-scout.de

3 SCHOOL-SCOUT Englisch Seite 2 von 10 The education of a country reflects its society Problems of the school system in Germany What is education? Education is a social process that encompasses acquiring specific knowledge, beliefs and skills. Education covers a range of experiences, from formal learning to the building of understanding through day to day experience. Schools have a strong influence on formal education, and family members and other factors such as the mass media have a strong impact on informal education. Therefore education can be seen as a reflection of a society, and the beliefs, core values, socio-economical and political factors shape the education of a country. Besides, the current state of a society and the problems it has to face are mirrored in the reactions of young people, such as when deficits in the educational system become apparent as in Germany, where growing violence in schools is a serious problem. A recent report about a violence-plagued high school in Berlin reveals the failure of the German educational system once again. It makes people worry about the state of the educational system, the poor integration of foreigners and the decay of modern society. Problems of the German school system state of the Rütli Hauptschule, describing a complete breakdown of the discipline and a growing tendency towards violence by students. But Berlin has not been the only example of violence in German schools over the past years; there have been other incidents such as the school shootings in Erfurt, the suicide of a high school student in class etc. systems, Germany scored well below the average at the so-called PISA tests. The OECD

4 SCHOOL-SCOUT Englisch Seite 3 von 10 partly blamed the three-tier structure of the German educational system for the poor test results. The system divides students at the early age of 10 into three different school types: the Hauptschule for students aiming for an apprenticeship; the Realschule for students who later usually tale low white-collar jobs; and the Gymnasium, which awards the Abitur, a diploma which facilitates entry to university. The three-tier system reflects the three class society of the nineteenth century; it cements the existing inequality in society and determines the future educational path of children and to a large extent the course of their entire adult lives. School performance and family background The educational system reflects its society structure, and children of affluent parents have a far greater chance to get upper secondary education than children of a labourers or migrant children. Family background plays a critical role in school performance, especially in Germany, where most schools are only half day schools and students are left to do a pile of homework in the afternoon, with or without the help of their parents. This leaves many children, particularly migrant children, at a disadvantage. Therefore there are many children who could have achieved a higher educational level if they had been supported early enough, and enough children of affluent parents struggle along at the Gymnasium, often with extra private lessons, because their parents aim for the best possible education. Schools suffer from social problems It is not surprising that the Hauptschule is seen as a social dumping ground for migrants, for expelled students from other schools and other children with learning difficulties or severe problems. Poor teacher training also contributes to undetected until it is too late. Teacher training concentrates on specialised knowledge, while pedagogical methods play a subordinate role and psychological training is almost non-

5 SCHOOL-SCOUT Englisch Seite 4 von 10 existent. The educational system bears a great responsibility for many problems that affect students, but it must also be said that schools themselves suffer from social problems. Difficulties and poor school performance of children are often due to lack of family support. Teachers see that many children are neglected Teachers complain that a lot of children are neglected, because many parents are too busy or are not interested enough to put energy into raising their children. Additional pressures bearing down upon young people (and their parents) are found in social conditions. For example the cost-cutting policy in Germany that has led not only to growing poverty due to unemployment and low salaries, but also to resignation. The severe economic and social situation combined with a lack of political orientation and perspective has created an atmosphere of despair and hopelessness. And in a society where solidarity seems to be a notion of the past, young people are urged to use their elbows to press ahead. The greatest problem is that children spend too much time on their own, and just hang around with others children or watch TV. Mass media plays an important role and has a great impact on children, who believe everything they see. Television, computers and other electronic entertainment should certainly not be a substitute for the care and attention of parents. Education depends on a responsible society The education of a country lies in the responsibility of its society. Educational policy is responsible for providing equal educational opportunities and high quality education for all. However, parents and other society members are also responsible for the informal education of children. Since police were brought in to control violence at a Berlin Hauptschule, the question of what can be done to remedy social inequalities and to improve the educational system has become a political hot potato in Germany. Now the German government is

6 Unterrichtsmaterialien in digitaler und in gedruckter Form Auszug aus: The education of a country reflects its society - Problems of the school system in Germany Das komplette Material finden Sie hier: School-Scout.de